Fire-escape.



C. F. THUENER. FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1909.

fzzrsnzaz" 5177 51252752" Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

UNITED STATES CHRISTXAN F. THUENER, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FIRE-ESCAFE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 191%.

Application filed September '7, 1909. Serial No. 516,406.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN F. THUE- xnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes, the primary object of the invention being to provide a generally improved portable device of this class, which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and etticient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light weight device of this class admirably adapted to be carried in the gripsaclr of the commercial travelers, and adapted to be readily brought into use to meet the varying demands of actual service.

With the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangements, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a view of the improved device as it appears applied for use from an open window. Fig. 2, a detail perspective view of the improved reversible friction-block part of the device detached from the cable. Fig. 3, a view of the inner 0r studded side of one of the friction-block side-plates showing the arrangement of the looped portions of the cable used in conjunction therewith. Figs. 4, and 5, are views of the inner or studded sides of the respective side-plates forming the improved frictionblock.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

The improved fire-escape comprises a rope or cable 1, a reversible friction-block 2, and a suspending belt or strap 3. To facilitate the fastening of the rope or cable 1, a snaphook 4, is preferably attached to either end of the cable and the belt or strap 3, is provided with a snap-hook 5, by means of which it may be readily secured to one of the ends of the friction-block 2, to be now described.

The improved friction-block is made up of two side-plates 6, provided with integral friction-studs 7, adapted to abut against each other and conj ointly forming a series of staggered peripherally grooved friction-pins 7, when the side-plates 6, are assembled, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, of the drawings. Each side-plate is provided with a lug portion 6*, at one end, and at the other end with an over-turned head 6", said sideplates being arranged or assembled in reverse directions, and having their overturned heads 6 provided with rivet-shanks 6 adapted to pass through corresponding openings, in the adjacent projecting lug portion 6, of the opposite side-plate as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, of the drawings. The over-turned heads 6", are pro vided with openings 8, for the passage of the rope or cable 1, and each projecting lug portion 6 is provided with an opening 9, for the reception of the snap-hook 5, on the belt or strap 3.

The rope or cable 1, may be of any suitable and convenient material and passes through one of the openings 8, thence over and about the friction-pins 7 forming transversely-disposed loops 1 and thence out through the other opening 8, in the opposite over-turned heads 6", of the frictionblock. The rope or cable 1, together with the friction-block 2, and belt or strap 3, may be readily carried in an ordinary grip-sack and are intended to be kept in the room from which the descent is intended to be effected in case of danger, and when it is desired to bring the device into use, one end of the rope or cable 1, may be secured to the window-sill or other suitable permanent object, or secured to a bed-post 10, as indicated in Fig. 1, of the drawings, and the long end of the cable thrown out of the window. The

belt or strap 3, may be then passed around the waist of the escaping party and the snaphook 5, snapped into the lower opening 9, of the friction-block. hen the snap-hook 5, of the waist-band of the escaping party is in engagement with the friction-pulley, the relative position of the loops 1 of the, cable about the friction-pins 7 is such that the weight of the occupant causes the rope to pass through the friction-block in a slow and easy manner, thus allowing the occupant to descend in perfect safety.

As the friction-block is reversible when one person has safely arrived on the ground, and divested himself of the belt or strap 3, another person in the burning building may immediately pull the rope, unfasten the se cured end, and throw it out of the Window and fasten the end pulled up (carrying the friction-block 2, and belt or strap 3,) and secure the belt or strap in a manner similar to the first party, the only difference being that the friction-block is now reversed and the snap-hook secured in the opposite opening 9, from that previously employed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a fire-escape a reversible friction block comprising side plates each provided with abutting friction studs and oppositely arranged overturned heads and projecting lugs, said heads belng provided with cable openings and riveted to the projecting lug portion of the opposite side plate.

2. A fire-escape comprising a reversible block made up of side plates provided With integral friction studs abutting against each other forming conjointly a series of staggored peripherally grooved friction-pins, and a rope provided with transversely-disposed loops taking over said friction-pins.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

CHRISTIAN F. TI-IUEI ER.

lVitnesses O. C. BILLMAN, G120. H. BILLMAN. 

